Awards
Hoxworth Blood Center Honored Cincinnati Students
According to Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati area high school students have an important role to play in saving lives. Roughly 13% of Hoxworth’s total yearly blood collections come from high school blood drives. In fact, during the 2013 2014 academic year, 107 individual high schools hosted 174 blood drives for a total of 8,726 donations.
Kristopher Folden Hughes STEM High School was honored by Hoxworth Blood Centeror a total of 8,726 donations.
Allison Kenneally Mason High School was honored by Hoxworth Blood Center
Through Hoxworth’s High School Program students who organize blood drives learn valuable skills in leadership, community service, communication, project management, planning, setting and reaching goals and teamwork. “Without the student blood donors Hoxworth would not be able to adequately meet the needs of patients in the 30 Tri-State hospitals that we serve,” said Alecia Lipton, Hoxworth community relations manager.
Recently Hoxworth awarded eight scholarships to these young participants, selected based upon a submitted short thirty second video encouraging blood donations. Winners received $250 and an iPad Air.
Thirty-eight students applied. Below are the scholarship winners.
1. Holly Rack, McAuley High School
2. Allison Kenneally, Mason High School
3. Emma Nienaber, Taylor High School
4. Megan Hamberg, Bishop Brossart High School
5. Maggie Flanagan, Notre Dame Academy
6. Brianna Berry, Boone County High School
7. Kristopher Folden, Hughes STEM High School
8. Ryan Hodge, Deer Park High School
Moeller High School was also honored with the Tom Roebel Award of Excellence. The Tom Roebel Award of Excellence is named in honor of this former Roger Bacon High School teacher and blood drive coordinator, whose commitment to the success of his high school blood drives exemplified the spirit of community service. Mr. Roebel’s legacy lives on through this award that identifies one high school annually, which has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the success of its own blood drives. Moeller high school was selected for this award as they had 37 platelet donations during the academic year.
For more information about our high school program, please click here.
About Hoxworth:
Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati was founded in 1938 and serves 30 hospitals in 17 counties in Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. Annually, Hoxworth collects more than 90,000 units of blood from local donors to help save the lives of patients in area hospitals. Hoxworth Blood Center. All Types Welcome.
Cincinnati Rotary Club Inspires With Jefferson Award
Attending an awards event is truly an inspirational experience. And the Cincinnati Rotary Club’s 2014 Jefferson Award luncheon was no exception. The Awards program honors ‘ordinary people doing extraordinary things,’ although the truth is I wouldn’t classify any of those whose names were recognized as ‘ordinary’.
They are amazing people who have a passion and a drive to get things done. They have a genuine heart for others. They are leaders. And they are people whose voices cause people to take notice.
While one person was awarded the Jefferson Award, the finalists are absolutely deserving of recognition too. So I 
wanted to include the videos of each of them and I encourage you, if you want to be inspired, to listen to each one.
Congratulations to Wendy Steele, 2014 Jefferson Award Recipient!
The year was 2001 when Wendy Steele, a former bank vice president and stay-at-home mother to three, had an idea. And out of that idea sprouted an organization and a movement that has infused millions of dollars into the hands of dedicated individuals and teams making a difference in their communities.
Impact 100 is Wendy’s brainchild. It is a nonprofit that has given out more than $2,500,000 to 22 different nonprofits in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area since its inception. Its concept is simple and powerful. Impact 100 members each donate $1000 and annually pool their resources; research nonprofit applicants; vote for the organization that could have the largest IMPACT; award a grant (of at least $100,000); and follow-up to hold the agency accountable.
By 2013, the local Impact 100 had grown to include over 300 members, some of whom now split the $1,000 membership fee and a single member’s vote.
And the giving doesn’t stop there. Today Impact 100 is in 18 communities across the United States and several communities in Australia. Nationally, over 5000 women have contributed more than $25 million to charities.
(video credit: Local12 Creative Services Dept)
Dr. Ira Abrahamson, founder of the Abrahamson Pediatric Eye Institute in 1996 with a mission of wiping out preventable blindness in children by developing a vision screening program. His program has expanded to 29 elementary schools and several community centers throughout Greater Cincinnati.
(video credit: Local12 Creative Services dept)
Brooke and Keith Desserich founded The Cure Starts Now Foundation in 2007 in honor of their daughter Elena, who lost her battle to cancer at the young age of 6. Today The Cure Starts Now has surpassed $2 million in research funded at some of the top prestigious research facilities around the globe, including our Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
(video credit: Local12 Creative Services Dept)
Created in 1972 by then-Cincinnati resident U.S. Sen. Robert Taft and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the Jefferson Award is presented annually to recipients in more than 90 U.S. cities. It’s organized by the Institute of Public Service and supported locally by the Rotary Club of Cincinnati, one of the area’s oldest business organizations with 300 members. This year’s Jefferson Award winner will go to a gathering of all U.S. honorees in June. Over the years, numerous Cincinnati winners have been recognized there with national honors for public service.
Cincinnati Rotary Club Opens Jefferson Award Nominations
It is such a wonderful gift when people gift selflessly to enhance lives and their community. So often those individuals do their work quietly, without need or want for recognition. Still, their efforts most certainly are worthy of being honored.
One special program aimed at doing just that is the Rotary Club of Cincinnati Jefferson Award (with leading sponsor, the American Institute of Public Service (AIPS). The Jefferson Awards pay homage to Greater Cincinnati volunteers who have gone above and beyond.
In partnership with the Enquirer Media and Local 12, The Rotary Club is looking to recognize ordinary people who do extraordinary things without the expectation of recognition or reward. These are individuals that are changing and improving our community, while addressing an important issue facing our area.
The Jefferson Award, which is recognized as the Nobel Prize for public service, was created in 1972 by Cincinnati’s own U.S. Senator Robert Taft and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and is presented annually to recipients in more than 90 cities in the United States. The AIPS’s mission is to encourage and honor individuals for their achievements and contributions through public and community service.
On March 13, 2014, the Rotary Club of Cincinnati will host the annual Jefferson Award presentation luncheon during their weekly meeting and will announce this year’s winner. The winner will then go to Washington, D.C. in June to represent our region for the National Award. The nomination form is available in a printable and online application on the following two websites: The Rotary Club of Cincinnati: Rotary Club of Cincinnati Jefferson Award Printable Application and Enquirer Media: Enquirer Jefferson Award Online Application.
Deadline for nominations is 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 21, 2014.
Please click here to download a nomination form: Jefferson Award NominationForm 2014
ABOUT CINCINNATI ROTARY CLUB: The Rotary Club of Cincinnati is the preeminent professional service organization for men and women, supporting children, particularly those with disabilities throughout the Tri-State area through its partnerships with Stepping Stones/Camp Allyn and the Roselawn Condon School. The Rotary Club of Cincinnati also supports the global effort to eradicate polio worldwide through its PolioPlus program. For more information about the Rotary Club of Cincinnati, go to www.cincinnatirotary.org. Questions? Call The Rotary Club of Cincinnati at (513) 421-1080.
YWCA Of Greater Cincinnati Is Seeking Women Of Achievement
The YWCA of Greater Cincinnati will host the 35th annual Career Women of Achievement Luncheon on May 14, 2014 at the Duke Energy Convention Center. The YWCA is seeking nominations for this esteemed award, which 274 women have won over the last 34 years. The Career Women of Achievement Awards recognize outstanding women at the pinnacle of their careers. Former Career Women of Achievement Honorees Diane Jordan-Grizzard, President & CEO, Thembi Speaks, LLC and Kathy Kelly, President Kroger Personal Finance, The Kroger Co., are the distinguished event co-chairs 
for 2014.
For more information and nomination forms, please visit www.ywcacincinnati.org or contact the YWCA at 513-241-7090. The deadline for receipt of nominations is Monday, January 6, 2014.
The YWCA established the Career Women of Achievement Awards in 1980 to increase awareness and appreciation for the diverse contributions of women in the work force and in the community. An independent panel of community leaders will judge the nominees based on their outstanding career achievements, strong leadership qualities, and ability to serve as role models. “It is an honor to be selected to Co-Chair the 35th Anniversary Career Women of Achievement Luncheon and to celebrate these ‘pearls of our community’”, commented Kathy Kelly. The eight finalists are recognized at the Salute to Career Women of Achievement luncheon. Past honorees have been awarded from all professions, including educators, artists, lawyers, human service executives and government officials. The largest luncheon in the Midwest region, this event is traditionally a sell-out, boasting past keynote speakers such as Alfre Woodard, Anna Quindlen and Maya Angelou. Individual tickets and corporate tables of 10 are available at multiple sponsorship levels.
According to Diane Jordan-Grizzard, “the Salute to Career Women of Achievement luncheon is the single largest fundraiser for the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati and the proceeds from the event directly support critical YWCA programs serving more than 35,000 women and their families community-wide, including domestic violence shelters, job training and literacy, and youth services.”
The mission of the YWCA is to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. For more information on YWCA programs and events, please visit the website at www.ywcacincinnati.org.
Cincinnati Area Philanthropists Honored For Generosity
Each summer for the past four years, in working on the post-publicity for the Voices of Giving Awards, I’ve had the great pleasure of getting to know stories from some of our area’s truly inspiring philanthropists. And I’ve learned about the Cincinnati area nonprofits whose invaluable work is sustainable only through generosity of people like the honorees. (The Voices of Giving Awards is an event of the Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council. It was sponsored by PNC and held at CET.)
While the honorees were honored for their planned gifts, they have done so much for their favorite causes often having been long time volunteers and/or supporters.
Emilie Dressler was one of the honorees. A weekly Guest Services Volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in Cincinnati for 10 years, her genuine care is a vital part of what makes the House so special for families with critically ill
Tracy Monroe, dir. of planned giving for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati; Emilie Dressler; Tanya Cornejo, dir. of development for the Ronald McDonald House
children. Emilie is the first person worried families meet with they come to the Ronald McDonald House, and her smiling face has a magical way of putting them at ease.
“I love helping out and making a difference. If there’s anything I can do to make a family’s stay less stressful, I try to do it,” she said.
Emilie actually helps out in so many ways. In fact, I’m told there is hardly a part of the Ronald McDonald House that she hasn’t been involved in. And so, it makes sense that she would also choose to support the cause financially too. Her bequest gift will help ensure future generations of families find relief there too.
“In a perfect world, there would be no need for Ronald McDonald House. But, since there is still such a great need for the House, my great concern is the wait list to get a room. What these families face is truly overwhelming. I just want to do as much as I can now. And, by making a planned gift, my hope is to help make sure that the House will continue to be there for all families, when they need it most, and that the House will continue to grow long after I am gone,” Emilie said.
Her passion for a cause that is dear to her heart is the common thread she shares with all of the Voices of Giving honorees. Together they have collectively given tens of thousands of dollars to help ensure the sustainability of Cincinnati area nonprofits working to strengthen lives and communities.
“It is truly our greatest honor to recognize such a special group of individuals for their purposeful gifts to ensure the long term welfare of many nonprofits whose work strengthens our families and neighborhoods,” said Lori Asmus, co-chair for the event.
Cincinnati Area Philanthropist Carole Blackschleger was honored for her planned gift to the American Cancer Society
All Voices of Giving honorees included: Patrick J. Cleary (posthumously) – on behalf of Xavier University; Anne Zaring on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; Bob Friedman on behalf of CET, The Greater Cincinnati Television Educational Foundation; Emilie Dressler – on behalf of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati; Louise Morrison – on behalf of Life Enriching Communities Foundation; Shirley Davies (posthumously) – on behalf of Life Enriching Communities Foundation; Marianne and Snowden Rowe – People Working Cooperatively; Ruth F. Rosevear – on behalf of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Pops Orchestra; Bill Prosser – on behalf of Cincinnati Public Radio, WGUC; Betsy K. Jameson – on behalf of the Cincinnati Bar Foundation; Vincent H. Beckman (posthumously) – on behalf of the College of Mt. St. Joseph; Thomas G. Cody – on behalf of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; Carl Bergman – on behalf of Habitat for Humanity Greater Cincinnati; Trey and Chris Heekin, and Kip and Jenny Heekin – on behalf of the United Way of Greater Cincinnati; Wilbur Cohen – on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati; James A. Miller – on behalf of the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Susan and Tom Young – on behalf of the Cancer Support Community Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky; Barbara and Ted High – on behalf of the Episcopal Retirement Homes; and Carole Blackschleger – on behalf of the American Cancer Society. NOTE: Other honorees requested not to be listed.
For more information on them, please click on this link: 2013 Voices of Giving honorees
The 2013 event was co-chaired by Lori Asmus and Telly McGaha. Committee members included Sally Alspaugh, Diana Collins, Jessi Konnagan, Bruce Favret, Jim Friedman, Misty Griesinger, Bill Hitch, Mary Alice Koch, Susan Kulick, Michelle Mancini, Chandra Mathews-Smith, Tracy Monroe, Carol Stevie, Sue Ellen Stuebing, and Molly Talbot.
The Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council is a professional association for people whose work includes developing, marketing, and administering charitable planned gifts for non-profit institutions and a variety of other legal and financial settings.
